Jesse69
New member
It seems like most old pcb boards use electrolytic capacitors. Don't electrolytic capacitors "dry out" and lose their spec over time? I read a library book and it said to quick check a capacitor use the ohmmeter and if the resistance is low you got a shorted or leaky capacitor. If the resistance is high it's probably ok. Then you check capacitance with the + probe to the capacitor's + lead. Does it matter to the reading if the capacitor is still soldered in place, - or can you still get a good capacitance reading?
I'm wondering because I'm measuring capacitors off my Stargate Board and they are all off. I don't think my $15 on sale Sears Craftsman DMM is bad... Like several 100 mfd 25vdc capacitors are reading .032 to .040 nF so they're way off or am I doing something wrong?
22mfd 16vdc - Main Board =>.055 nF reading
So do you guys usually replace old capacitors on old pcbs when you refurbish them? What effect do out of spec capacitors have?
I'm wondering because I'm measuring capacitors off my Stargate Board and they are all off. I don't think my $15 on sale Sears Craftsman DMM is bad... Like several 100 mfd 25vdc capacitors are reading .032 to .040 nF so they're way off or am I doing something wrong?
22mfd 16vdc - Main Board =>.055 nF reading
So do you guys usually replace old capacitors on old pcbs when you refurbish them? What effect do out of spec capacitors have?



